ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – Winthrop University’s Board of Trustees approved its fiscal year 2026-27 budget at its June 25 meeting.
The $209.8 million budget calls for a core expense balanced budget of $132.1 million,
as well as a $77.7 million non-core budget that includes $71.3 million in capital
project expenses, according to Kevin Butler, CFO and vice president for finance and
business affairs. The new budget, which begins July 1, funds $1.15 million in new
initiatives.
The budget includes funding for a 2-percent salary increase currently being considered
by the State, which is expected to be offset by $1 million in money from the State,
if approved. The budget assumes no increases to tuition rates for students.
Butler predicted the university will be able to fund $1 million in new and recurring initiatives for the next three years due to projected growth of the institution.
Last year’s budget of $158.7 million is projected to end up significantly in the black, finance administrators said at the June 25 meeting.
Faculty Recognition, Facilities Projects and Board Member Appreciation
Two long-time retiring faculty members were approved for emeritus status at the board meeting. English Professor Josephine Koster and Psychology Professor Jeffrey Sinn together have been part of the Winthrop faculty for a combined 60+ years and have contributed greatly to faculty governance and to the university’s community of learners.
In addition, board members approved a resolution thanking Board of Trustees member Tim Sease ’87 of Charleston for his 12 years of service, approved the annual information security report, and voted to lease half of the American Legion parking lot to Ace Solutions VV2, LLC for three years for $180,000 annually.
Board members also approved funding for several facilities projects. These include:
*Renovating the Winthrop Bookstore space in the DiGiorgio Campus Center to make way
for a new office for the Center for Career Development and Internships. The work will
be done by HeartLand Construction.
*Demolishing the original fuel tank containment structures, grading the site for future
development and making landscaping improvements. The work will be completed by First
Class Construction and is state funded.
*Turning two West Center racquetball courts into a new physical education, sport,
and human sciences sports science lab to replace the former lab space from the Lowenstein
Building. Renovations will be state funded and completed by Johnson Laux.
*Renovating the existing courts at the Tennis Center, with a gift funded at 900,000,
to add pickleball courts.
*Upgrading the WiFi at the Winthrop Coliseum and at the Withers/W.T.S. Building with
$1 million in state dollars to improve connectivity, which includes new switches,
access points and wiring/fiber.
In addition, during a specially called June 26 meeting, board members approved a resolution
to refurbish the Amphitheatre tiered seating with a $900,000 gift to create a new
multipurpose space.
For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at longshawj@winthrop.edu.
